Atsuko Kawada (川田 あつ子, Kawada Atsuko, born 10 August 1965 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress, model, singer, and author. She was named "Miss Young Jump Queen" in 1981 by Shueisha in their Weekly Young Jump magazine. She became an overnight sensation following her acting debut as the heroine in the TBS television series adaptation of the best selling novel, Ningen Banji Saiō ga Hinoe Uma (人間万事塞翁が丙午), by Yukio Aoshima. She has starred in several films and television series, published a novel that was made into a film in which she starred, and had several photo collections released.
She has been married to actor Yūrei Yanagi since 1999.
Life and career
Kawada was born on 10 August 1965 in Tokyo, Japan.[2] She attended Meiji University Nakano Junior and Senior High School before transferring to Tokyo Municipal Yoyogi High School, where she graduated.[3]
In 1981, she won the "Miss Young Jump Queen" Grand Prix contest sponsored by Weekly Young Jump, a magazine published by Shueisha.[3][4] She made her singing debut with the single, Secret Music Box (秘密のオルゴール, Himitsu no Orugōru), released in April 1982 by CBS Sony.[4] The song was used in a commercial for House Foods gelatin dessert Jelly Ace.[5] That same year, she made her acting debut as Hana, the heroine in the TBSdramaNingen Banji Saiō ga Hinoe Uma (人間万事塞翁が丙午).[6][5] This series was based on a best-selling novel of the same name by Yukio Aoshima, and the appearance made her popular overnight.[6]
Kawada's other major roles include the heroine in The Wiseman's Prank (仙人のいたずら, Sennin no Itazura) (1991), Atsuko in Shufu ken Fukei 28-nen Shinmai Deka ni Meisuiri!! Bijinzuma Satsugai Jiken no Kagi wa Reizōko no Nakami to Ryōshūsho no Yama!? (主婦兼婦警28年新米刑事の名推理!! 美人妻殺害事件のカギは冷蔵庫の中身と領収書のヤマ!?) (1994), Yoko in Rain: Nemurazaru Machi (Rain～眠らざる街～) (1996),[7] voicing Gisuke in the animated Azumi Mamma Mia (あずみマンマ・ミーア, Azumi Manma Mīa) (1997),[8] and Miss Pheromone in Little Spy War: Cute & Aggressive Spy Miss Pheromone (スパイ小作戦〜Cute & Aggressive SPYミスフェロモン〜, Supai Kosakusen: Cute & Aggressive Misu Feromon) (2005).[9] She became a regular on the TBS 1982-1983 television variety show Tanokin Zenryoku Tokyū! (たのきん全力投球!),[6] and has appeared in multiple other series and films.[10][11][12][13][14][15]
Kawada published her novel Rain: Nemurazaru Machi (RAIN～眠らざる街～) through Kosaidō in March 1996, and a film by the same title was released direct-to-video at the same time.[7] In 1999, she married Yūrei Yanagi.[16] In recent years, she has worked with her husband producing short films.[citation needed] She is represented by Last Scene, a talent management firm.[5] Four gravure photo collections were released from 1987 through 2000.
Cooking Love Story (料理恋物語, Ryōri Koimonogatari) (August - September 1988, TBS)
Will You Open the Window? (窓を開けますか?, Mado o Akemasu ka?) (1988, Fuji TV)
Haimisu de Warukatta ne! (ハイミスで悪かったネ!) (4 episode miniseries as part of the Drama 23 series, June 1989, TBS)
Inaka no Ōji-sama: Sukī e Iku (田舎の王子様・スキーへ行く) (part of the Dramatic 22 series, March 1990, TBS)
The Wiseman's Prank (仙人のいたずら, Sennin no Itazura) as the Heroine (part of the Monday Drama Special series, June 1991, TBS)
Shufu ken Fukei 28-nen Shinmai Deka ni Meisuiri!! Bijinzuma Satsugai Jiken no Kagi wa Reizōko no Nakami to Ryōshūsho no Yama!? (主婦兼婦警28年新米刑事の名推理!! 美人妻殺害事件のカギは冷蔵庫の中身と領収書のヤマ!?) as Atsuko Umenoki (September 1994, Fuji TV)
Kyōtarō Nishimura Suspense: Inspector Totsugawa Series "The Woman Who Disappeared in Hagi and Tsuwano" (西村京太郎サスペンス 萩・津和野に消えた女, Nishimura Kyōtarō Sasupensu: Hagi・Tsuwano ni Kieta Onna) as Mayumi Okazaki (part of the Monday Drama Special series, October 1994, TBS)[11]
Azumi Mamma Mia (あずみマンマ・ミーア, Azumi Manma Mīa) as Gisuke (voice) (60 episodes, July - October 1997, TV Asahi)[8]
Little Spy War: Cute & Aggressive Spy Miss Pheremone (スパイ小作戦〜Cute & Aggressive SPYミスフェロモン〜, Supai Kosakusen: Cute & Aggressive Misu Feromon) as Miss Pheromone (December 2005, TBS / BSi)[9]
Films
After School Premonition (胸騒ぎの放課後, Munasawagi no Hōkago) (October 1983, Fuji TV)[19]
After School Premonition 2 (胸騒ぎの放課後2, Munasawagi no Hōkago 2) (December 1983, Fuji TV)
The Boys' Squad Right After School Special (少年隊のただいま放課後スペシャル, Shōnentai no Tadaima Hōkago Supesharu) as Nobuko Yamada (June 1984, Fuji TV)
That Morning, Suddenly... (ある朝、突然に…, Aru Asa, Totsuzen ni...) (December 1984, Fuji TV)
^川田あつ子（カワダ アツコ） [Atsuko Kawada] (in Japanese). Gooニュース. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
^川田あつ子のプロフィール [Atsuko Kawada's Profile]. Oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^ ab 週刊テレビ番組 - プロフィル [Weekly TV Shows - Profile]. 東京ポスト (in Japanese). 5 July 1985. p. 48.
^ abcdこすもす（Ken Matsubayashi） (23 February 2021). 川田あつ子「秘密のオルゴール」 82年組デビュー組の中で可愛らしさ全開の良曲 [Atsuko Kawada's "Secret Music Box" is a really cute song among the 82 debuts]. note（ノート） (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^ abcたけし軍団にいた柳ユーレイの嫁！花の82年組のダークホース・川田あつ子！！ [The Takeshi Gundan member, the wife of Yūrei Yanagi! The dark horse of the Flower Group of 82: Atsuko Kawada!!]. ミドルエッジ (Middle Edge) (in Japanese). 11 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^ abcde【1980年代ドラマの人気女優たち】『人間万事塞翁が丙午』川田あつ子「久世光彦さんに怒られ、毎日、泣いてました」 [Popular 1980s drama actresses: Atsuko Kawada of "Ningen Banji Saiō ga Hinoe Uma" says "Kuze Teruhiko was mad at me every day, I cried every day"] (in Japanese). 週刊Flash. 18 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^ abcオリジナルビデオ ＲＡＩＮ 眠らざる街 (1996) [Original video: Rain: Nemurazaru Machi (1996)] (in Japanese). Allcinema. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
^川田あつ子のTV出演情報 [Atsuko Kawada TV Appearance Information]. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^ ab西村京太郎サスペンス 十津川警部シリーズ「萩・津和野に消えた女」 [Kyōtarō Nishimura Suspense: Inspector Totsugawa Series "The Woman Who Disappeared in Hagi and Tsuwano"]. TBS CS［TBSチャンネル］ (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^川田あつ子のプロフィール/写真/画像 [Atsuko Kawada Profile / Photos / Images]. gooニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^川田あつ子 [Atsuko Kawada]. allcinema (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^川田あつ子の出演映画作品 [Atsuko Kawada Filmography]. Movie Walker Press (in Japanese). 17 December 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^異人たちとの夏 作品詳細 [The Discarnates - Details] (in Japanese). シネマNavi. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^川田あつ子のプロフィール [Atsuko Kawada Profile]. Exciteニュース. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
^第43話 あぶない刑事「脱線」 [#43 Abunai Deka "Deviation"] (in Japanese). Webザテレビジョン. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^胸さわぎの放課後 (1983) [After School Premonition (1983)] (in Japanese). Allcinema. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
